Your landlord just dropped the news: rent’s going up next month. Your first thought? “Then that legal?”

The short answer is: it depends. But as a Jamaican renter, you have more protection than you might think – if you know what to look for.

Landlords in Jamaica can start an eviction under the Rent Restriction Act for specific legally recognized reasons.

“You nah get back no deposit. You mash up mi dresser!”

Here’s the truth: You have more rights to your deposit than most Jamaican renters realize.

Some landlord nosy bad! “Where are you going?” “Who is that visiting you?” “Why are you getting so many deliveries?” You’re paying rent for your own space, but somehow you feel like you’re living under a microscope instead of in your own home.

“No children, no pets, professionals only.” As a parent searching for housing in Jamaica, these words can feel like doors slamming shut before you even get a chance to prove you’re a responsible tenant.